Chapter 77

"Do you think I could sneak it inside with me?" Aether finally voiced his query, his eyes shifting between Delphine and the snake.

"Well, taming a creature isn't uncommon, but..." Delphine's response trailed off, her expression reflecting a mix of understanding and unease.

Aether caught her implication immediately.... Slave!!

Aether pondered his options. It was evident that the snake had formed some kind of attachment to him, possibly due to his sedu--ahem, Unknown reasons.

Let's go with that!!

He hesitated, unsure of the implications of taking the snake with him.

"Should I leave it here and retrieve it later..." Aether mused quietly to himself, weighing the consequences of his decision.

"~SSSS~"

Before Aether could finalize his decision, the small white snake hissed and leapt onto Aether's head, fixing him with a fierce glare.

"I suppose leaving it behind isn't an option after all..." Aether awkwardly admitted, glancing at Delphine for any guidance or support.

Sighing softly, Delphine spoke up, "Well, I'll be staying with Selen and Kai until the engagement concludes, so I can take care of it in the meantime." Her willingness to help was evident, a gesture aimed at earning Aether's trust.

Aether felt a wave of gratitude towards Delphine, appreciating her assistance in dealing with the unexpected situation. However, a nagging question lingered in his mind.

"Hmm? You're not aware?" Delphine tilted her head in surprise at Aether's question.

"What do you mean?" Aether's curiosity piqued, prompting Delphine to explain further.

"As soon as the engagement concludes, Kai and his sister will enrol in the Academy for higher education and other important matters... like something important" Delphine elaborated. "Anyhow, Their departure implies that you'll be accompanying Kai... and given your status as a slave, you'll be allocated a separate room from Kai.

You'll be fine for the next four years under that arrangement." Her words carried a matter-of-fact tone, outlining the path that lay ahead for Aether in the foreseeable future.

"..." Aether slowly digested the information, "Higher studies... ah?" Aether muttered under his breath with... little longing?

The atmosphere shifted abruptly as the small white snake, feeling neglected by Aether's distracted thoughts, had been licking his face for affection and yet, here this human was ignoring this powerful king!!

"HHIIISS!!!"

Expressed its displeasure with a loud hiss that reverberated through the room... followed by a blinding flash of light.

"Shit!" Aether and Delphine instinctively shielded their eyes from the intense glare, their senses overwhelmed by the unexpected brightness.

As the light subsided, their vision gradually returned, only to be met with a startling sight.. a massive white snake, its size magnified to an intimidating scale.... Its tail coiled around them tightly.

"HHIIISS!!!"

The snake's furious hiss reverberated through the air, its eyes fixed accusingly on Aether for his apparent disregard.

However, Aether's total focus was on,

Delphine.

Both of them found themselves in a remarkably intimate situation... entangled together, their bodies pressed closely against each other. Aether could feel the warmth of Delphine's breath, the softness of her skin, and the unmistakable sensation of her ample bosom pressing against his chest.... her bosom almost felt like it was about to bust off from her tight dress.

Delphine's cheeks flushed crimson as she averted her gaze, her embarrassment evident as she tried to regain her composure. Her body, especially her ample bosom, pressed against Aether's chest in the tight embrace, adding to the awkwardness of the situation.

"Let me go, you idiot!" Delphine's voice carried a mix of irritation and restrained power as she addressed the colossal snake, her cheeks still flushed from embarrassment. Despite her command, she refrained from using her full strength, knowing that it could harm the snake.

Meanwhile, Aether's gaze remained fixated on Delphine.... a curious intensity in his eyes as if drawn to her presence.

"What are you looking at, brat?" Delphine's frustration bubbled over, her words sharp as she redirected her glare towards Aether.

The term 'brat' struck a nerve with Aether for the second time, igniting a spark of defiance within him. Despite his youthful appearance, No matter what, he was a man in nearly his thirties and calling him a brat was truly touching his nerves....

He indeed looked like a brat but that didn't mean she needed to be so bitchy about it!!

With a mischievous smirk, Aether leaned closer to Delphine, his actions driven by a combination of curiosity and amusement. 'Let's see how my survival rate fares now,' he mused inwardly.

"W-What are you doing?" Delphine's voice trembled with alarm as she sensed Aether's proximity.

Aether was just about to whisper in her ear when,

"PUFF!!"

A sudden burst of light engulfed them, accompanied by the abrupt shrinking of the snake back to its original size. In the chaos, the tiny creature swiftly retreated into Aether's pocket as if he sensed someone.

'Thud'

'Thud'

"OUCH!!"

Aether let out a scream as he tumbled to the ground, but his anguish was far from over.

"FUCK!!" Another cry escaped his lips as he felt something heavy crush his hips. Looking down with pained eyes, he realized that Delphine's plump ass had landed squarely on his waist, nearly breaking him.

"Move your fat ass!!!" Aether's voice rang out in agony, his discomfort palpable.

"W-What? Who are you calling fat, Brat?!" Delphine's face flushed bright red with embarrassment as she attempted to rise, only to stumble and twist her leg, leading to another calamitous impact.

'Thud'

"FUCK!!!" Aether's cry was a mix of pain and frustration as he felt the weight of Delphine's body crush him once more.

"~HMM~" Delphine's inadvertent moan slipped out, her face immediately contorting with shame as she covered her mouth.

Aether's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked up at Delphine, his expression a mix of surprise and confusion, "Did you just mo--mmmfffff," he began to question, only to have Delphine swiftly cover his mouth, her glare intense.

"Don't you dare say another word!" Delphine's face was flushed with embarrassment, her actions revealing her discomfort with the situation.

It was then that an emotionless voice interrupted the tense moment.

"What shouldn't he be saying... Aunt?" the voice belonged to Selene, who stood near the door with an impassive expression.

Tilting their head like mechanical robots, they saw a Selene standing near the door with emotionless eyes.

"I-I need to prepare my luggage," Delphine hurriedly excused herself, disappearing into particles as if vanishing into thin air.

"H-Huh?" Aether was left bewildered by Delphine's sudden disappearance, 'Looks like she was really powerful' realizing the power she possessed, though it wasn't the right time to dwell on it.

Attempting to compose himself, Aether greeted Selene with a stammer, "H-Hello, M-madam Selene..." as he struggled to regain his composure and stand up.

Before Selene could inquire further, Kai, Delphine's brother, entered the training room.

"Selene, why did you run here?" Kai's voice held a note of concern as he addressed his sister.

"Tsk," Selene clicked her tongue, her demeanour shifting to a softer tone as she explained, "Hehe... I am sorry, Big Brother. I thought the slave had run away again, so I came to check..."

While Kai was slightly puzzled by Selene's choice to come indoors instead of searching outside, he quickly refocused on their imminent departure.

"It's time for our departure. Let's hurry," Kai urged, addressing Aether directly, "and you, help me dissect the monsters I killed."

With that directive, Kai exited the scene. A heavy sigh escaped Aether's lips as he felt the weight of the situation settle upon him.

However, before he could dwell on his feelings of inadequacy, Selene's ominous words pierced the air.

"Don't think we are done," Selene's voice carried a hint of warning as she held the door, which suddenly shattered into pieces before she departed.

!~Ding~!

Survival rate: 1.9%↓

"I fucked up!!"